Posted 6 years ago on Feb. 5, 2012, 10:48 a.m. EST by Underdog
(2971)
from Clermont, FL
This content is user submitted and not an official statement

This country needs to finish what the Founding Fathers started. They focused on a socio-political framework that developed into the Constitution because their focus was in the creation of a new Republic. We now need to plan, develop, and pass into law an Economic Constitution and Economic Bill of Rights (like FDR was trying to do before he died). These fundamental Economic documents need to be based on principles of Economic Democracy, just as our socio-political Constitution is based upon principles of Political Democracy.

Then, and only then, will we live in a country that is truly free and democratic, a country built upon principles of equality for ALL it's citizens that transcends the limitations of our Founding Fathers vision. Had they known then what has now come to pass, they would have taken steps to include Economic Democracy into the framework they developed. Not in their wildest imaginations could they have envisioned that such great disparity between the classes would arise.

Thomas Jefferson was well aware of the natural development of things when he wrote to Henry Lee in 1824:

"Men by their constitutions are naturally divided into two parties: 1. Those who fear and distrust the people, and wish to draw all powers from them into the hands of the higher classes. 2. Those who identify themselves with the people, have confidence in them, cherish and consider them as the most honest and safe, although not the most wise, depository of the public interests. In every country these two parties exist, and in every one where they are free to think, speak, and write, they will declare themselves. Call them, therefore, ...Whigs and Tories, Republicans and Federalists, Aristocrats and Democrats, or by whatever name you please, they are the same parties still, and pursue the same object. The last appellation of aristocrats and democrats is the true one expressing the essence of all."

The American Aristocracy is now concerned. Occupy has their attention. Let us press on and finish the work that our conscience dictates must be completed, for the betterment of ALL the citizens of this country and, by example, the world.

3 Comments

That is one of the most illuminating, thought-provoking, and astonishing links/articles I have ever read. I have bookmarked it for future reference. You should consider posting it. It is a bit long, but some will read it all. I did.

I particularly like this part:

"Suppose that leaders in government transfer public money into the hands of a private company even though they are share-holders in that company, or receive campaign contributions from that company, without apology for the obvious conflict of interest. When this occurs, citizens should ask whether their leaders are acting in the interest of every citizen. If the answer to that question is “no,” then it is very likely that a state of tyranny (rule by one despot) or oligarchy (rule by cliques of powerful individuals) exists."

And this:

"... the South Sea Company, now operating in its new capacity as a financial firm, was viewed by the government as too big to fail. The government used public money to bail out the South Sea Company and continued doing business with them for years to come. The British people, in time, accepted that the South Sea Bubble had occurred by accident rather than design."

As always, those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.